Buckle.



J. F. MOLLOY, DECD.

T. F. & L. MOLLOY,-ADMINISTB.ATORS.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1911.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

W Wm i D a I 4 A rr JAMES F. MOLLOY, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT; THOMASF. MOLLOY AND LILLIAN MOLLOY ADMINISTRATORS OF SAID JAMES FAIVIOLLOY,DECEASED. I

I BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed August 1, 1911. Serial No. 641,776.

' VVes t Haven, in the countyof New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles;

and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which saiddrawings constitute part of this specification, and rep-, resent, in

Figure 1 a front view of a buckle constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 a rear view with the lever in the closed position.Fig. 3 a rear view with the lever in the open position. Fig. 4 asectional view with the leverv in the closed position and shown asengaged with a strap. Fig. 5 a sectional view with the lever open andthe strap removed.

.This invention relates to an improvement in buckles and particularly tobelt buckles.

In the usual construction of buckles when completed they are adapted foruse with a particular thickness of strap, whether of webbing or leather,and then if used with a thick strap the spring will become set so thatthe buckle cannot again be dsed with a thin strap.

The object of this invention is to provide means for clamping straps ofvarious thicknesses and so arrange the spring so that it" will notbecome set; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafterdescribed and particularly recited in the claims. y

In carrying out my invention I employ a frame 2 preferably struck upfrom sheet metal and preferably slightly bowed longitudinally. The sidesof the frame are turned inward forming ears 3 which are perforated toreceive trunnions 4 formed at the ends of a leaf 15 produced by bendingoutward the inner end of a lever 5 which is formed from sheet metal andwhich is provided at its outer end with fingers 6 which are foldedaround the bar 7 of a wire loop 8. The central portion of the outer endof the lever 5 is cut away to give clearance to the inner end 9 of aspring clamping plate 10 which is loosely secured directly to the bar 7between the fingers (3, for the purpose of permitting the said plate tohave a slight longitudinal movement independent of the lever to providefor the automatic adjustinent of the buckle to straps of varyingthickness. The inner end of the spring plate 10 is turned outward toform a gripping edge 11 adapted to engage with the strap and clamp thesame against the inner face of the body 2. To hold the said spring plate10 in place, it is provided with a clearance slot 12 through which atongue 13 formed on the edge of the said leaf 15 extends after extendingover the body of the spring plate in such a way that the same has aslight lay with relation to the lever. Preferably and as herein shown,the spring-plate will be reinforced or strengthened by a corrugation orrib 14. By connecting the spring plate 10 with the bar 7 of the wireloop 8 independent of the said lever, the said bar becomes a springwhichallows more or less play of the gripping-edge of the spring plate inaddition to the loose connection of the plate with the said bar, so thatstraps of various thickness may be held without setting the said plate.

I claim 1. In a belt-buckle, the combination with a body, of'a leverpivotally connected therewith; a loop mounted in the outer end of thesaid lever, and a tongue having its outer end loosely connected with thesaidloop to adapt the buckle to accommodate itself to differentthicknesses of straps, and at its inner end formed with a gripping-edgefor co-action with the inner face ofthe said body, and the inner end ofthe said tongue being loosely connected with the inner end of the saidlever to prevent its displacement with respect thereto. a

2. In a belt-buckle, the combination with abody, of a lever pivotallyconnected there.- with and formed at its outer end with two fingers andat. its inner end with a tongue, a loop pivotally mounted in the saidfingers, and a spring plate loosely connected with the said loop at apoint between the said fingers of the lever and formed at its inner endwith a gripping-edge co-acting with the inner face of the body and alsoformed at its inner edge with a slot receiving the tongue formedupon theinner end of the lever for holding the spring-plate in place.

3. A buckle comprising a body .formed with inwardly projecting cars, alever pivotally mounted in said ears and formed at its outer end withfingers, a loop with which said fingers are engaged, a spring connectedwith said loop between said fingers and formed at its inner end with agripping edge, the spring also formed with 21v clearance slot, and thelever with a, tongue to extend through said slot whereby the spring isheld in engagement with the lever.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- 10 ing witnesses.

JAS. F. MOLLOY.-

